Quote:
Originally Posted by aclark0622
Tell me this: Can you send your 1st line out and say 'we're here to play hockey.' Especially if you get the refs on red alert. All eyes are then on the Flames to either goon it up or scramble after the face off to get the right matchup on the ice. If they choose goon-mode then you've kinda proven your point, if they choose scramble-mode then crisis averted, or at least you've kicked the can down the road to later in the game.
I see fighting fire with fire, but the Flames had already made their bed.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swordo84
They are going to get jumped (and potentially hurt) regardless of what they tell the refs.
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This is what I tend to believe from experience. When guys get it into their minds that they are going to do something, it's gonna happen regardless of who is on the ice or what they say. It's just reality. Not saying it's right, but it's reality. Hartley made it clear by starting the game with those guys (as the away team knowing the Canucks would have the chance to match it) that he was ready and willing to go after whoever else came out.
Like I said before, easy for us to take the moral high road as spectators, but so much more has to go on in the minds of the coach. Like you said, aclark, what if they put it off til later? Does McGratton/Westgarth take out a Sedin then? Are they going to let the goons come out and run guys whenever the rest of the game? Or would it be better just to get it done with, get those guys out on their game misconducts, and get on with the game?
Not trying to dictate what should/could've happened, just saying that it's not as easy a situation as some make it out to be, IMO.